Garage door operator with automatic latch



April 17, 1956 H. A. WlLCOX 2,742,280

GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Original Filed Nov. 15, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet l EC DUDE, R {mm 1 E W msuumor u Lil IN VEN TOR. Harr A.Wzlcoz A TTOPNE Y A ril 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITHAUTOMATIC LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 IN VENTOR. Harry A. 17721602 dam/6 11..

ATTORNEY A ril 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX 2,742,280

GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. Harry A. VVIIC'OZ ATTORNEY April 17, 1956 H.A. WILCOX 2,742,280

GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled Nov. 13, 1947 g Q F 24 117 23 2o INVENTOR.

11 Harry A. Wilcox @mg/di A T TOANE Y April 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX GARAGEDOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Hfirr Y A. VVIZCOX y Gama a2.

United States Patent O GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH HarryA. Wilcox, Westport, Conn., assignor to Eastern Industries,Incorporated, East Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication November 13, 1947, Serial No. 785,569, now Patent No.2,676,294, dated April 20, 1954. Divided and this application January26, 1954, Serial No. 406,269

16 Claims. (Cl. 268--59) This invention relates to an improved automaticdoor mechanism, and is particularly adapted to doors of the overheadtype, such as used in garages, warehouses, and the like. 7

Doors of this type utilize upwardly and rearwardly extending trackwayswithin which ride rollers affixed to the sides of the door panel orpanels and have extension spring and cable assemblies to assist in theraising of the door and to restrain the descent thereof.

The present application for patent is a division of copending originalapplication S. N. 785,569, filed November 13, 1947, and which hasmatured into U. S. Patent 2,676,294, issued April 20, 1954. The claimsof the present divisional case relate to an automatic door mechanismincluding an automatic latch device. Claims to the reversible motorcontrol features of the door operator appear in the above identifiedcopending parent case, now U. S. Patent 2,676,294.

The present invention is particularly suited for the conversion ofexisting installations to automatic operation in that the originallyinstalled trackways and counterbalancing springs are retained, and aminimum of other structural changes or additions are required. On anexisting door installation, for example, the conversion includes theinstallation of a sprocket wheel shaft across the top of the dooropening inside of the garage and the substitution of chains, preferablyroller chains, for the existing cables. The chains engage with thesprocket wheels provided on the shaft adjacent the side edges or" thedoor panel. The drive motor and control unit is suspended from anextension of the shaft and rotates the shaft according to the desireddirection of door movement. One end of. each chain is aifixed to thebottom edge of the door and the opposite end passes over theconventional pulley mounted on the free end of the counter-balancingspring and then is secured to the frame of the garage or some equivalentanchorage.

A control mechanism is provided to cause the motor to rotate in theforward or reverse direction, thus placing the chain under tension toraise the door or relieving such tension to permit the door to closeunder its own weight. Only a momentary ciosure of a single controlswitch circuit is required for raising or lowering the door. Anautomatic limit switch actuator for operation of a combined directionalcontrol and limit switch assembly for operation of the motor opens themotor circuit just prior to the end of door travel; the limit switchactuator also positions a directional control switch actuator forproperrnotor rotation to accomplish the next raising or lowering of thedoor upon the next closure of the control switch circuit.

Because of the suspension of the motor and control unit, the startingtorque of the motor will cause the unit to swing. This swinging movementis utilized to operate an automatic latch to unlock the door prior toopening. The automatic latch does not interfere with manual :operationof the door; or with the operation of the usual key lock.

all)

- be readily installed and utilizes existing or standard door hardwareand accessories to a high degree.

It is another object of the invention to provide an automatic dooroperator which is mechanically associated with automatic latching orlocking means.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improvedlatching means for an'automatically operable overhead door actuatingsystem. 1 r

With these and other objects in mind reference is bad to the attachedsheets of drawings illustrating one. practical embodiment of theinvention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective. of adinstallation of the invert, tion asapplied to a sectional type overhead doom,

Fig. 2 is a detail in vertical section showing a typical self-aligning,bearing for the sprocket shaft; 1

Fig. 3 is. a perspective of the motor and control sys:

tom, the enclosing casing having been removed, and

showing the support of the control unit by the sprocket. shaft;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of one switch group of themotor control switch assembly, the cam actuator therefor being shown inend sectionfor purposes of illustration; T r l Fig. Sis a somewhatschematicside elevation of an associated switch group of the motorcontrol switch:

assembly, the cam actuator therefor beingfsirnilarly shownv in endsection;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram for the directional control and limit switchaction;

Fig. 7 is an exploded front perspective view .of a

Figs. 11 to 19 inclusive illustrate phases of operation of the controlswitch actuating means in response to sue: cessive solenoid operations;Figs. 20 to 24 inclusive show the control switch actuating means. andassociated door travel limit control in; various stages of operation; a

Fig. .25 is a circuit diagram of an auxiliary Circuit; Fig. 26 is a,front elevation partly in section, of the automatic latching means; IFig. 27 is a vertical side elevation, ,partly in section, showing theconnection of the automatic latch actuating means with the control andthe motor unit housing;

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 27 but shOWiiig lb? torque responsivemovement of the motor and the control casing; and

Fig. 29 is a front elevation showing the manner .in which a door rollermoves the latching bolt to permit said roller freely to pass said bolt.I g 7 Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a conventional overheaddoor D to which door. operating apparatus according to the invention hasbeen applied. The door D has the usual rollers R engaging within theupwardly and rearwardly extending rails, R, which guide the door in itsopening and closing movements. As is well known,

such doors are counter-balanced by means such as the extension springs Csuitably anchored to uprights at the ends of the respective rails R andhaving at their free ends pulleys or sheaves P carried in suitableclevises. Ordinari- 1y, before adapting the door for automatic operationpursuant to the present invention, the counter-balances are associatedwith the door by means of flexible cables which run from the respectivelower corners of the door upwardly over guide pulleys (not shown) fixedto brackets extending from the rails at the curved portion thereof,thence around pulley P to a suitable fixed anchorage above the dooropening. When the door is in closed position the counter-balancespringsare extended so that as the door is lifted, the contraction of thesprings provides a portion of the power required to lift the door toits' open position.

In adapting such conventional door for automatic operation, the webs Wof the rigid angle irons A affixed to the inner gagage wall, secure themountings M of spherical bearings J, shown in more detail in Fig. 2.Said bearings are in alignment to rotatably receive a main shaft whichextends above and parallel to the upper edge of the door. The sphericalself-adjusting or self-aligning bearings compensate for the frequentlyexperienced mis-alignment of the webs W in existinginstallations.

Sprockets 11 are fixed to the shaft 10 in suitable relationship withrails R, and-each sprocket cooperates with a roller chain 12 which issubstituted for the conventional flexible cable. It will be noted thatat each side of the door, chain 12 extends from the lower corner thereofupwardly over the sprocket 11 around the pulley P, and thence to ananchorage. Rotation of the shaft 10 in clockwise direction (as'see inFig. 1) will lift the door by means of the roller chains; thecounter-balance springs assisting in such operation. When the door is tobe closedthe shaft and sprockets are rotated in the opposite direction,relieving the spring tension on the chains between the sprocket'and thepoint where the chain is attached to the door, and permitting the doorto close of its own weight. During such closing movement thecounterbalance springs are again extended for the next door-openingoperation.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, a motor and control housing 13 includesa bed plate 14 on which the motor and the several control devices arecarried. Carried in bearings 15 extending outwardly from the bed plateis a tubular main shaft 16 which telescopes over an extension of theshaft 10 and is secured thereto by means such as set screws or theirequivalent. The motor housing 13 is therefore swingably carried by theshaft 10 and is permitted a limited rotation as later described.

In order to permit the outer parts and some of the underneath parts ofthe door operator control assembly to be seen more clearly, thisassembly is shown in Fig. 3 in an intermediate position with the poweroif after the door has been raised to a partly open position, instead ofin the full down position of the door as shown in Fig. l.

The bed plate 14 carries a reversible electric motor 17 which drives themain shaft 16 through suitable speed reduction means such as theillustrated chain and sprocket organization to move the door at arelatively slow speed.

7 A lay shaft 18 comprises an element of the speed reduction means andby means of a centrally threaded portion 20 operates the switch assemblyas hereinafter described. Dispose'd on the rear of bed plate 14 is asolenoid 21 having an'ar'mature 22 which is normally held in extendedposition by means such as the spring 23.

The motor is controlled by a pair of multicontact switches 24, 25 whichare respectively operated by a twolobed cam plate 26 arranged to rotatein either direction over a total arc of about 60 degrees. The upper lobe27 of the cam (see Figs. 3 and 4) has a stepped end cooperating withwhich is a follower 28pof switch group 24. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6 therespective switch arms and contact structures of the switch will openthe circuit, or close the circuit for forward or reverse motoroperation, according to the position of the follower 28 with respect tothe stepped end of the cam. The central step of said cam lobe is the offposition.

The lower end 30 of cam 26 has a cavity flanked by' steps of equalheight. The lower switch group 25 simi-- larly has a follower 31 forcooperation with said cam con-- figurations, and according to theposition of the cam with respect to the follower 31 the motor circuitwill be either in on or off condition, the central cavity representingthe off condition and the adjacent steps operating switch 25 to closethe motor circuit.

It will be noted that when cam plate 26 is substan tially vertical as inFig. 3, both switches will be in open circuit position, and that whenthe cam is rotated therefrom approximately 30 degrees in eitherdirection, both switches will be in closed circuit position, group 24being:

in either up or down motor control position according to the directionof cam rotation.

The starting of the motor for raising or lowering the door, is under thecontrol of one or more momentary contact switches B suitably mountedwithin the garage or at other convenient location. These switches may besimple push-buttons in a low voltage circuit, as shown in Fig. 6. Thestopping of the motor is under the joint control of the push-button andof the limit actuator which operates to open the motor circuit shortlybefore the completion of the upward or downward travel of the door. Innormal operation this action of the limit actuator stops the motor.However, the push-button may be operated to stop the motor before thedoor has reached the point at which the limit actuator would operate.

An actuation of switch B when the door is at rest will start it in thedirection opposite to the direction it had immediately prior to comingto rest. This selection of direction of movement is automaticallyprovided by the action of the control switch actuating means, as morefully described below.

The control circuit Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will be notedthat switch group 24 comprises a double pole, double throw, switch inwhich the respective contact springs are maintained in properly spacedmutually insulated relationship by suitable insulating blocks or posts,and that the movable contact springs 34, 35, and the cam follower arm 37are joined for simultaneous movement by the insulating posts 36. Switchgroup 25 is a double pole, single throw, switch in which the contactsprings are also suitably carried by an insulating block. The movablecontact springs 38, 39 and the cam follower arm 41 are joined by theinsulating posts 40.

The direction of operation of the switches for accomplishment of theirrespective functions is indicated by the double arrows adjacent theswitch representation on Fig. 6. It may be noted at this point that theoperating surfaces of cam 26 are so arranged that switch 24 makes firstand breaks last and that switch 25 makes last and breaks first. Thus,the relatively simpler switch 25 handles the load and switch 24 merelyswitches the motor circuits.

Motor 17 has a conventional starting winding 42, running winding 43, anda centrifugal switch 44 modified to provide two contacts 45, 46 forcooperation with the bridging arm 47 which is connected to negativepolarity. Contact spring 35 of switch 24 is negative; contact springs 38and 39 of switch 25 are respectively negative and positive; and thepush-button lead of solenoid coil 21 is connected to positive. Saidsolenoid coil is preferably actuated by low voltage, say 20 volts,provided by transformer T, although it will be understood that ifdesired this may be eliminated and the solenoid served by volts.

Contact spring 48 of switch 25 connects by lead 49 to one end of thestarting winding 42, the other end of which connects through contact 45and bridging arm 47 to negative polarity when the motor is stopped orwhen its speed is below the critical speed at which the centrifugalswitch operates.

When switch 25 is in the closed position, with the door moving eitherupward or downward, negative potential is applied to the negative sideof the solenoid coil 21 through contacts 38 and 50 of switch 25, throughwire 51 to the negative side of the coil 21, so that any time the motoris running another actuation of push-button B will cause the solenoidcoil to be energized. When switch 25 is in the off position, negativepolarity is no longer applied to solenoid coil 21 and another actuationof pushbutton B will not cause solenoid coil 21 to operate until themotor armature has slowed down enough so the centrifugal switch 44permits contact 46 and bridging arm 47 to close the circuit whereuponnegative polarity will be supplied through arm 47 contact 46, wires 52,51 to the negative side of solenoid coil 21.

These connections prevent the solenoid from operating switches 25 and 24until the motor has slowed down enough to close its centrifugal switch,so that the next closure of the motor circuit will cause the motor tooperate in the correct direction, but while the motor is running anotheractuation of push-button B will always cause thernotor to be turned off.

One end of running winding 43 connects by lead 53 to contact springs 54,55 of switch 24; the other end of the running winding connects by lead56 to contact springs 57, 58 of switch 24. Contact spring 34 of saidswitch connects by lead 59 to contact spring 48 of switch 25.

Assuming the door to be in the up position, the closing of button B willenergize solenoid 21 and by means presently described will actuate cam26 in a direction to cause contact springs 34, 35 to move to theposition which will connect the motor for downward motion. Negativepolarity is applied to one end of the running winding through contactsprings 35, 55 and lead 53. The other end of the running winding 43 isconnected through lead 56, contact springs 57, 34 and lead 59 to contactspring 48 of switch 25. A fraction of a second later, switch 25 closesand positive polarity will be applied to contact spring 48 by contactspring 39, thus connecting running winding 43 across the line in thedirection for correct downward operation of the door.

Upon closure of switch 25, positive polarity is also applied to one endof the starting winding 42 through contact spring 39, 48 and lead 49.The other end of the starting winding 42 is already connected tonegative polarity through contact 45 and arm 47. Since the motor isstopped and the centrifugal switch is closed, and since power is nowapplied to both starting winding 42 and running winding 43 the motorwill thereupon start and run in the correct direction to give downwardmotion of the door. As soon as the motor speed exceeds the criticalspeed for which the centrifugal switch is set, contact 45 and arm 47will operate and the motor will continue to run in the same direction onits running winding 43.

It will be apparent that operation of the switch 24 in the oppositedirection will reverse the polarity of the running winding for motorrotation in the opposite direction.

The directional operation control Fig. 7 illustrates in exploded view, anumber of cooperating parts of the mechanism for rotating the cam 26clockwise or counter-clockwise in response to pushbutton-solenoidoperation or limit control operation. Fig. 8 shows a rear view, withrespect to Fig. 7, of certain of the parts of Fig. 7 and should beconsidered along with Fig. 7 in connection with the followingdescription.

A main switch plate 60 is secured to or integral with a shaft 61, a rearextension 61a of which is journalled in bearing 61b in the bed plate 14,shown in Fig. 9, and the front portion 61 of which terminates in anon-cylindrical tip 62 to which the cam 26 is affixed. Freely rotatableon shaft 61 and overlying plate 60 is a selector plate 63. Selectorplate 63 is provided on the surface which is nearer main plate 60 with alug 65, and main plate 60 has a depression 64 of somewhat larger angulardimensions than lug 65 in which lug 65 can move through an arerestricted by the edges 64a, 64b, of the depression. Each of the saidplates has a pin extending therefrom, respectively pins 66 and 67, overwhich ends 68a and 68b respectively of toggle spring 68 are rotatablyfixed. Toggle spring 68 serves to hold selector plate 63 in one of twopossible stable angular relationships with plate 60, which are shown inFigs. 11 and 16 respectively. The toggle action is provided by ashortening of the distance between ends 68a and 68b of spring 68 as pins66 and 67 pass each other in going from one stable condition to theother.

The rear wall of plate 60 is provided with three equiangularly spaceddetent sockets 70 which cooperate with a suitable spring detent 69(shown in dotted line in Fig. 9) extending forwardly from the bed plate14. Plate 60 is also provided with a rearwardly extending centering pin71 for cooperation with the centering spring leaves 72, 73 affixed to arear wall of the bed plate 14 and projecting forwardlythrough a window74 therein (see Fig. 9). These spring leaves provide position means forholding the main plate in open circuit position and are moved out ofholding position by the operation of the actuating arm, as laterdescribed. A snap plate 75 is freely rotatably carried on shaft 61adjacent to plate 63. The snap plate has a rearwardly extending lug 76(see Fig. 8) which rides within the aligned arcs 77, 78 formedrespectively in the plates 60 and 63, said arcs each terminating insubstantially radial end walls as shown in Fig. 7.

Also carried by said shaft 61 is a spring plate 80 having a cylindricalhub 81 which carries a helical torsion spring 82. The posts 128, 128a,127 and 127a extending from the spring plate 80 and snap plate 75respectively support cover plates 83, 84. The final item of the assemblyis the shaft support 85 within which shaft 61 is journalled near itsend, and which is suitably supported on posts 86 as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the armature 22 of solenoid 21 moves radiallyof shaft 61. A slide 90 is afiixed to armature 22 and is suitably guidedfor movement radially of shaft 61. Illustratively said armature andslide move in a vertical plane to drive in arm 94 for engagement withone or another of the notches 104, 105, 106 in selector plate 63 asshown in Figs. 11-19, the normal position with the solenoid deenergizedbeing shown in Figs. 3

and 13. Bed plate 14 is provided with a window 91 having a lengthsomewhat greater than the total movement of the armature 22. Aflixed tosaid slide and extending through the window are a pivot post 92 and astud 93. Pivotally carried upon post 92 is an actuating arm 94 having anoutwardly projecting lug 95 at its upper end and an operating pin 96projecting forwardly adjacent its lower end. Post 92 carries a torsionspring 97 (see Fig. 13) having upwardly extending ends 98, 100 whichstraddle the stud 93 and lug 95 so as normally to hold the arm 94 radialof shaft 61 but permitting said arm 94 to be deflected to the right orleft of said shaft as clearly appears in the series of figures from Fig.11 to Fig. 19.

It has previously been noted that cam 26 is affixed to shaft 61 forrotation therewith and that rotation of said camin one or the otherdirection causes the cam surfaces thereof to operate the respectiveswitch groups 24 and 25. Direction control of the motor is accomplishedby momentarily closing switch B to energize the solenoid 21, thereforedrawing armature 22 and the therewith associated arm 94 downwardly. Thedirection of rotation of cam 26 controls the direction of motoroperation and the function of the selector plate 63 is to deflect theend of arm 94 and to translate the downward movement thereof into properdirectional rotation of plates 63 and 60, and shaft 61.

Selector plate 63 is provided with three notches, 104, 105, 106, withone of which the pin 96 engages as arm 94 drives downwardly to rotatethe selector plate accordingly. Said notches are, in effect, cams whichdetermine the direction of rotation of said plate and have sloping edgeswhich deflect the pin 96 to the correct side of the center line so that,for example, cam 26 will be rotated from its mid-position (off position)to close the up circuit if the last motion of the door was downward, orto close the down circuit if the last motion of the door was upward, andcam 26 will be rotated to its mid-position from either up or downposition if the solenoid is reoperated with cam 26 in the up or downposition respectively.

The notches 104, 105, 106 are symmetrical. The center notch 104 has twoconvergent edges, one or the other of which will intersect the verticalcenter line of shaft 61 when the main plate 60 is in o positiondepending on Whether the last movement of the door was upward ordownward. As the arm 94 drives downwardly its pin 96 will engage one orthe other of the side edges of notch 104 and be deflected to the pocketat the opposite end of the base of the notch, thereby rotating plate 63until an edge of lug 65 engages with edge 64a or 64b (according todirection of rotation of plate 63) to rotate the main plate 60accordingly. After such rotation an edge of either notch 105 or 106 willbe in position to cause rotation of plate 63 in the opposite directionon the next downward movement of arm 94.

A symmetrical guide plate 107 is fixed behind main plate 60 to deflectthe pin 96 of arm 94 out of engagement with plate 63 at the end of thestroke. This is desirable for proper operation of the limit switchaction at the end of the door travel if, for example, a person heldswitch B closed (thus keeping solenoid 21 energized) during the fullmovement of the door.

Main plate 60 has three resting positions approximately 30' apart, asdetermined by the three detent sockets indicated by the circles 70. Thusthe total movement of the main plate 60 for any one solenoid actuationis of the order of 30". As previously pointed out, selector plate 63 maybe rotated through a limited arc with respect to the main plate 60,under control of the toggle spring 68. For example, if the selectorplate 63 and the main plate 60 are in the right-hand position, as shownin Fig. 14, the first action of arm 94 in the downward stroke is toshift selector plate 63 through its limited arc with respect to mainplate 60, while the latter isbeing held by detent 69 engaging the lowersocket 70 marker x in Fig. 14. As the stroke of arm 94 is continueddownward and to the left, lug 65 of selector plate 63 drives main plate60, so that both plates rotate approximately 30 to the middle positionthe detent now being in the center socket, at the end of the stroke, asindicated in Fig. 15.

The sequence of Figs. 11 to 19 shows the operation of plates 63 and 60at varying stages of actuator arm operation.

In Fig. 11 the garage door is in full up position; the switch B has beenclosed, and arm 94 has begun to drive downwardly. Pin 96 strikes theleft hand edge of notch 104 and engages the opposite lower cornerthereof causing a clockwise rotation of plates 63 and 60, and shaft 61.Fig. 12 shows the end of the actuator stroke and shows that pin 96 hasbeen disengaged from plate 63. The position of the detent symbol Xindicates that the cam 26 has rotated to operate switch stack 24 to downcircuit position, and stack to on position.

Fig. 13 illustrates the condition when button B has been releaseddeenergizing the solenoid and permitting spring 23 (Fig. 3) to retractthe arm 94 to its centered position. It will be noted that an edge ofnotch 105 intersects the vertical center line. The switch cam 26 isstill in circuit closing position for downward door movement. Fig. 14shows the commencement of another downward movement of arm 94 and thedeflection thereof to the left of the center line. Fig. 15 depicts theend of the stroke, the disengagement of pin 96 from'plate 63 by guideplate 107 and the return of the switch cam (as represented by theposition of detent X) to off position. It will be seen that notch 104 isoverthrown with respect to the center line and that its right-hand edgeintersects said line.

In Fig. 16 switch B has been opened and again closed and actuator 94 hascommenced another downward stroke. The right-hand edge of notch 104 isdeflecting the actuator to the left and at the completion of the stroke(Fig. 17) the cam 26 is in up circuit position, and the edge of notch106 angularly intersects the center line. Figs. 18 and 19 respectivelyillustrate an intermediate stage and a completion of another downwardstroke of actuator 94 and the return of switch cam 26 to off position.

As has been previously stated main plate 60 has a pin 71 projecting fromits rear wall, said pin snapping into position between the detentsprings 72 and 73 to hold cam plate 60 in a fixed centered position. Oneor the other of said spring detents is moved rearwardly out of the wayby engagement of the rear surface of arm 94 therewith as said armcommences its downward stroke, as shown in Fig. 10.

The limit switch control The limit switch operates automatically to openthe motor circuit as the door approaches its fully opened or fullyclosed position, the door coasting to the ultimate open or closedposition after the motor circuit has been broken.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 20 to 24, a walking beam is rotatablymounted on a pivot post 111 extending forwardly of the bed plate 14. Thearms of said beam are of equal length and slidably mount cam blocks 112,113, which are individually adjustable relative to the pivot post. Theillustrated adjustment screws 114, 115, or other equivalent means, maybe employed to establish the correct location of the cam blocks forproper switching operation. Nonrotatably mounted on the threaded centralportion of lay shaft 20 is a nut 116 having a roller 117 for cooperationwith the cam blocks as the nut travels along the lay shaft. An extension118 on said not rides within a suitable slot in the bed plate to preventthe rotation of the nut.

Depending upon the direction of rotation of motor 17 the nut travelsalong the lay shaft until roller 17 contacts a cam block whereupon, theblock is raised by the roller and the walking beam and its hub 120 isrotated through a small arc, to operate switch cam 26 as presentlydescribed.

It will be recalled. that the door is lifted on roller chains running onsprockets, and the position of the nut on the lay shaft therefore is ina definite relationship to the position of the door. To suit existingconditions, the location of the cam blocks may be adjusted after one ortwo trial runs.

A torsion spring 121 maintains the beam 110 in horizontal position,except when it is deflected by the roller 117 engaging one of the blocks113, 114.

Alfixed to hub 120 for rotation therewith is a plate 122 (see Fig. 20)having a gear sector 123 meshing with a gear sector 124 formed on thelower edge of plate 80. The gear ratios are preferably such that arotation of plate 122 of about 6 degrees produces a rotation of plate 80of slightly over 30 degrees. Torsion spring 82 has upwardly extendinglegs 125, 126, which straddle the upper center posts 127, 128respectively projecting forwardly of plates 75 and 8,0. Y

Plate 122 pivotally mounts .a pair of dogs 130, 131, the respectiveinwardly offset ends 132, 133 of which are in the path of rotation oflugs 134, 13.5 extending forwardly from plate 75."; At their lower endssaid dogs 9 are connected by spring 136. Inward motion of the lower legsof the dogs is restricted by stops 136a.

Fig. 20 represents a condition where the door is in its fully downposition. Nut 116 has travelled to the left and its roller 117 hasengaged block 113-to rotate beam 110 clockwise. Plate 80 has therebybeen rotated counterclockwise and spring arm 125 has acted on pin 127 torotate plate 75 counterclockwise as soon as dog 131 has been carriedclockwise far enough about pivot post 111 by movement of beam 110 andplate 122, to permit end 133 of dog 131 to become disengaged from lug135. Lug 76 of plate 75 has turned selector plate 63, which has turnedmain plate 60 and shaft 61, counterclockwise, thus throwing switch cam26 to power ofi position.

I On the next closure of switch B to energize the solenoid 21 to drivearm 94 downwardly, plate 63 and its associated plate 60 will rotatecounterclockwise to throw the switch cam 26 to close the up circuit ofswitch 24 and the on circuit of switch 25 and the door will start torise. Plates 63 and 75 are independently rotatable at this point andtherefore the subsequent movement of plates 75 and 80 does not producerotation of plate 63.

The motor commences operation to raise the door and nut 116 travels tothe right. At this point the respective switch actuator plates are inthe Fig. 21 position and roller 117 is about to disengage from block113. Torsion spring 121 (Fig. 3) is returning the beam to horizontal andthe clockwise rotation of plate 80 is rotating plate 75 clockwise, sincespring end 126 is driving plate 75 through stud 127. Lug 135 is engagingwith the curved undersurface of dog 131 rotating it on its pivot againstthe tension of spring 136, and is about to snap over the end of the saiddog.

At Fig. 22 the roller 117 has disengaged from block 113 and spring 121has stabilized beam 110. Plate 122 is vertical; posts 127 and 128 are invertical alignment and lugs 134 and 135 are resting upon the uppersurfaces of the ends of the dogs 130 and 131. Plate 63 has not changedits position after having been rotated counterclockwise by arm 94, andnotch 106 is in position for engagement by pin 96 for the operation ofplates 63, and 60 should it be desired to stop the door in mid-travel.

At Fig. 23 the door is approaching full up position; roller 117 hasengaged block 112 and has begun to rotate beam 110 and its associatedgear plate 122 counterclockwise. Dog 130 is still in engagement with lug134 preventing rotation of plate 75 as the clockwise rotation of plate80 and the pressure of post 128 against spring leg 125 tensions thespring 82, because the then motionless post 127 restrains the movementof the spring leg 126. As block 112 continues to climb on roller 117,and beam 110 and gear plate 122 continue rotation, dog 130 releases lug134 and the reacting spring '82 snaps plate 75 sharply clockwise. As itdoes so its rearwardly extending lug 76 strikes the left hand end of thealigned notches 77 and 78 and rotates plates 63 and 60 clockwise,thereby rotating shaft 61 to bring switch cam 26 to the central, i. e.open circuit position. The switch actuator devices are then in the Fig.24 position, in which the door is fully raised and the power is off. Itwill be noted from Fig. 24 that notch 104 is in position relative to pin96 so that the next downward movement of said pin will rotate plates 63and 60 to close the motor circuit for down movement.

It will also be noted that there are two diiferent midposi'tions of theselector plate, which may be referred to as the right biasedmid-position as in Fig. 11 and Fig. 19 and the left biased mid-positionas in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16. The right-biased mid-position is biased forrotation of the selector plate to the right (clockwise), to the downwarddriving switch position shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14,, by the nextswitch B actuation. The left-biased midposition is biased for rotationof the selector plate to the left (counterclockwise), to theupwardjdriving switch position shown in Figs. 17 and 18, by the nextswitch 13 actuation.

Summarizing briefly a normal cycle of operation of the door operatorstarting with the door resting in fully closed position, and with theselector plate in its leftbiascd mid-position, an actuation of switch Bwill operate the solenoid to rotate the selector switch actuatorassembly to the left (counterclockwise) to close the upward drive motorcircuit to raise the door, and this driving action drives roller 117 tothe right to raise the right end of the walking beam 110 to rotate theselector switch actuator assembly clockwise to the right-biasedmid-position to open the motor circuit as the door nears the end of itsupward travel to allow the door to coast to a stop in fully I openposition.

The next actuation of switch B will now operate the solenoid to rotatethe selector switch actuator assembly to the right (clockwise) to closethe downward drive motor circuit to lower the door, and this drivingaction drives roller 117 to the left to raise the left end of thewalking beam to rotate the selector switch actuator assemblycounterclockwise to the left-biased mid-position to open the motorcircuit as the door nears the end of its downward travel to allow thedoor to coast to a stop in fully closed position.

It will be understood that the switch B may be operated directly by handby a person or may be a key operated switch for operation only by anauthorized person with the proper key. It will be understood furtherthat one switch B may be located on a post alongside the driveway andanother switch B may be located inside the garage or inside a houseassociated with the garage, or that one switch may be operated by remotecontrol by conventional magnetic, photo-electric, sonic or supersonic,radio or other systems if desired, either directly by an automobile inthe driveway of the garage or by a person actuating a remote controldevice in the automobile, the particular location of the switch orswitches B and means of actuating the same not being a part of theinvention.

Auxiliary circuit control Oscillation of beam 110 may be used to controlany supplemental or auxiliary electric circuit, such for example, as agarage light circuit so arranged that the light will be extinguished asthe garage door closes. Accordingly beam 110 is provided with a fingerthe end of which may have an insulating coating, and carrying aninsulated pin 141 for engagement with a spring arm 142 which cooperateswith a fixed contact 143 of the switch 144 suitably mounted on the bedplate.

The circuit diagram on Fig. 25 is self-explanatory. Switch 144 is inparallel with the usual garage light switch 145 so that when the garagedoor is down, the light 146 is controllable independently of switch 144.It will be obvious that separate lights may be provided andindependently controlled by switches 144 and 145 instead of connectingthese switches in parallel as shown. When the garage door is out of thefully down position to any extent so that roller 117 is off of block 113the beam 110 will have been rotated counterclockwise out of the Fig. 20position so that finger 140 will have been rotated away from contact arm142 to permit said arm to come to closed circuit relationship withcontact arm 143. As the door closes, assuming switch 145 to be open, therotation of beam 110 in its clockwise direction by roller 117 raisingblock 113 will raise the arm 142 to open the light circuit.

The latch actuator Doors of the overhead type are conventionallyequipped with a locking mechanism which includes a rotatable disc 150(Fig. 1) at diametrically opposite locations on which are lock bars 151,152, guided in one or more brackets 153 aifixed to the door. Said lockbars cooperate with openings provided in the web of the rails R.Rotation of the disc 15!) through about ninety degrees ex tends saidbars to pass through the openings thereby securing the door againstupward movement.

In the present invention advantage is taken of the permitted rotationalmovement of motor housing 13 on shaft to unlatch the door. In applyingthis feature of the invention to a standard door having locking bars,the bars 151, 152 are shortened so that when they are in their usualextended or locking position they terminate just inside of the edge ofthe door D, as shown in Fig. 26. The upper edge of bar 151 is preferablyslightly sloped as at 154, and the lower edge is more sharply angled asat 155.

Affixed to the outer wall of the web of one rail R is the housing of alatch 156. Said latch has a bolt 157 guided for free reciprocal movementwithin the latch housing as on rollers 158, 160. A relatively largediameter plate 161 is screwthreadedly aflixed to one end of said bolt,and parallel springs 162, 163 anchored thereto and to the latch housingurge the bolt to the right of Fig. 26; the plate striking the end of thelatch housing to limit the movement.

Bolt 157 projects through the opening 164 in rail R. It. is usuallynecessary to enlarge the standard opening with which the rail wasoriginally provided. As clearly appears, the bolt in home position,extends beyond the edge of the door and the nose 165 of said boltoverlies the bar 151 to secure the door against being opened.

In most overhead type doors one or more guide rollers R must pass thebolt during the opening or closing of the door and there are thereforeprovided deflector arms 166, 167 having stud-mounting ends whichrotatably engage within suitable sockets formed in the upper and loweredges of the bolt. Said deflector arms are slidably attached to theinner wall of the rail R and accordingly the end of each arm is slottedas at 168 (Fig. 26) for cooperation with the shank of a screw 170passing into said wall. As shown in Fig. 29 the edge of a door rollerwill strike an arm 166 or 167 camming it rearwardly to retract the boltout of the path of the roller. Slot 168 permits sliding movement of thearm relative to the rail.

A cam lever 172 is pivotally attached to the latch housing on stud 184and has a cam surface 173 for cooperation with plate 161. Said camsurface is so shaped that when the lever 172 is in the full lineposition of Fig. 26 the bolt is in extended or home position. When thecam lever 172 is rotated counterclockwise to the broken line position,cam 173 drives the plate 161 and its associated bolt 157 to the left fordisengagement with the lock bar 151. The door may then be raised.

Referring now to Figs. 27 and 28 there is pivotally attached to abracket 175 aflixed to the frame of the building a guide rod 176 whichprojects through the wall of casing 13 as shown. Adjustable stop plates177, 178 are provided on rod 176. Suitably attached to the wall ofhousing 13 is a stiflly flexible wire 180 such as a bowden wire; theflexible outer sheath 181 thereof being affixed by suitable brackets tothe building wall. The other end of wire 180 is attached to the lever172 as shown in Fig. 26.

Assuming the door to be in a down position and push button B pressed toclose the motor circuit the starting torque of the motor will cause thehousing 13 toswing with respect to the wall and will cause wire 180 tolift lever 172, thereby drawing bolt 157 to the left of Fig. 26 todisengage from the locking bar 151 and permitting the door to rise.

It will be understood that stop plate 178 permits rotation of the motorhousing 13 slightly in excess of the extent necessary to rotate camlever 172 sufficiently to withdraw the bolt 157. Stop plate 177 preventrotation of the motor housing in the opposite direction. When the motorcomes to rest upon completion of the door opening operation the motorcasing will have returned to the Fig. 27 position. Since the runningtorque is much less than the starting torque the housing 13 will returnsubstantially toward the Fig. 27 position during the upward movement ofthe door and during such return the Bowden wire 180 will permit lever172 to return to normal position 12 under urging of suitable springmeans such as the spring 184.

During the downward movement of the door the rotation of the motorhousing is prevented by the stop plate 177 and there will be no movementof lever 172. As the door moves downwardly the surface of locking bar151 will strike the arm 166 and the nose of bolt 157 and move the boltinwardly to permit the bar to pass the bolt and come into positionbeneath the nose 165 thereof.

As is known, the disc 150 is manually rotatable both from within andwithout the door. No part of the latch 156 interferes therefore with thenormal operation of the locking bars and the bolt may be retracted frominside or outside of the door and the door raised without recourse tothe automatic door operating mechanism.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as before notedare achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction andrearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. Automatic opening and closing means for doors of the overhead type,including in combination a door, a rotatable shaft, means connectingsaid shaft and door to raise or lower the door according to direction ofrotation of said shaft; a motor drivingly connected to said shaft foreffecting the desired direction of rotation thereof; a casing forhousing said motor; means for suspending said casing from said shaftwhereby the starting torque of said motor will effect a swingingmovement of said casing; means for limiting the extent and direction ofsaid swinging movement; a latch for said door, including a slidablebolt; and means connecting said motor casing and said slidable bolt towithdraw the latter to unlatched position upon said movement of saidmotor casing.

2. Automatic door opening and closing means for doors of the overheadtype, including in combination, a door, a rotatable shaft; meansconnecting said shaft and door to raise or lower the door according todirection of rotation of said shaft; a motor drivingly connected to saidshaft for rotation thereof in a desired direction; a casing for housingsaid motor; means for suspending said casing from said shaft whereby thestarting torque of said motor will effect a swinging movement of saidcasing; means for limiting the extent and direction of said swingingmovement; a latch for said door, including a slidable bolt spring biasedto latching position; and means whereby movement of said motor casingwithdraws said bolt to unlatched position.

3. Automatic door opening and closing means including in combination, adoor, a shaft mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and saiddoor for opening or closing the door according to the direction ofrotation of said shaft; a reversible motor for rotating said shaft inthe desired direction; a casing for housing said motor, said casingbeing mounted for movement over a limited are under the effect of thestarting torque of said motor in door opening direction; a latch forsaid door, including a slidable bolt; cam means for moving said bolt tounlatched position; a mechanical connection between said cam means andsaid motor casing to operate said cam means to move said bolt tounlatched position upon movement of said motor casing; and spring meansfor returnin said bolt to latching position.

4. Automatic door opening and closing means including in combination, adoor, a shaft mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and saiddoor for opening or closing the latter according to the direction ofrotation of said shaft; a reversible motor for rotating said shaft inthe desired direction; a casing for housing said motor, the casing beingmounted for movement over a limited are under the effect of the startingtorque of said motor in door opening direction; a latch for said door,including 'a slidable bolt; cam means for moving said bolt to unlatchedposition; a Bowden wire connecting said cam 13 means and said motorcasing to operate said cam means to move said bolt to unlat'chedposition upon movement of said motor casing; and spring means forreturning said bolt to latching position.

5. Automatic door opening and closing means including in combination, adoor, a shaft mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and saiddoor for opening or closing the latter according to the direction ofrotation of said shaft; a. reversible motor for rotating said shaft inthe desired direction; a casing for housing said motor, said casingbeing mounted for movement over alimited are under the effect of thestarting torque of said motor in door opening direction; a latch forsaid door, including a slidable bolt; cam means for moving said bolt tounlatched position; a mechanical connection between said cam means andsaid motor casing to operate said cam means to move bolt to unlatchedposition upon movement of said motor casing; spring means for returningsaid bolt to latching position; and meansoperated by movement of thedoor for moving said bolt to unl'at'ched position independently of saidmotor casing operated means.

6. Automatic doo'r raising and lowering means for doors of the overheadtype including, in combination, a door, a shaft, mounted for rotation;means connecting said shaft and said door for raising or lowering thedoor according to the direction of rotation of said shaft; a reversiblemotor for rotating said shaft; remotely controllable means for operatingsaid motor in the direction of rotation opposite to its immediatelyprevious direction of rotation; a casing for housing said motor, saidcasing being mounted for movement through a limited arc under thestarting torque of said motor in door-raising direction; rails forguiding the movement of saiddoor; rollers on said door engaging withsaid guide rails; a latch for said door, including a bolt reciprocablewith respect to one of said rails, and projecting normally into the pathof travel of said rollers; means mechanically connecting said motorcasing and said bolt, for retraction of said bolt to unlatched positionupon movement of said motor casing; and deflector arms pivotallyattached to said bolt and disposed in the path of said rollers, wherebyduring movement of said door, a roller may engage one of said deflectorarms to urge said bolt into unlatched position independently of saidmotor casing operated means.

7. In combination, a door, a momentary contact switch actuable at will,means for latching said door normally in its closed position in absenceof actuation of said momentary contact switch, means for releasing saidlatching means and for driving said door from its closed position towardits open position in response to actuation of said momentary contactswitch when said door is in its closed position and for continuing todrive said door toward open position after such actuation of suchmomentary contact switch, means for interrupting the last named drivingmeans in response to close approach of said door to its open position tostop said door in such position and to leave said door in said openposition in absence of further actuation of said momentary contactswitch, means for driving said door from said open position toward saidclosed position in response to actuation of said momentary contactswitch when said door is in said open position and for continuing todrive said door toward said closed position after such actuation of saidmomentary contact switch, means for interrupting the last named drivingmeans in response to close approach of said door to its closed positionto stop said door in said closed position, and means for releasing andrestoring said latch means in response to said door arrivingsubstantially at its closed position for automatically relatching saiddoor in said closed position.

8. An automatic door mechanism as in claim 7 and including means forinterrupting said door opening driving means to stop said door in apartial open position in response to reactuation of said momentarycontact switch while said door opening driving means is operating, and

means for interrupting said door closing driving means to stop said doorin a partially closed position in response to jr'eactuation of saidmomentary contact switch While said door closing means is operating.

9. In combination, a door, a spring latch for said door, electricaloperating mechanism for opening and closing Said door when energized, astarting switch, control switch means for said operating mechanismhaving one position for energizing said operating means for driving saiddoor from closed toward open position and a second position forenergizing said operating mechanism. to drive said door from open towardclosed position and a third position intermediate the first twopositions for deenergizing said operating mechanism to stop said door,means for actuating said control switch means from its intermediateposition to said first position in response to actuation of saidstarting switch when said door is in it's closed position, means forreleasing said latch moment'arily in response to energization of saidoperating means to open said door from its closed position, meansoperated by said operating means as said door approaches closely itsopen position to actuate said control switch means from said firstposition to said intermediate position to stop said door, means foractuating said control switch means from said intermediate position tosaid second position in response to actuation of said starting switchwhen said door is in its open position, means controlled by saidoperating means to shift said control switch means from said secondposition to said intermediate position to stop said door in response tosaid door closely approaching its closed position, and means formomentarily releasing and restoring said latch in response to said doorarriving at its closed position to automatically lock said door.

10. In combination, a door, a latch assembly for said door and includinga slidable bolt and a return spring for normally urging said boltagainst said door to lock it in closed position, means including adriving mechanism and reversible motor therefor for opening and closingthe door when operated in one or the other direction respectively, amultiposition switch means for operating said motor and having a dooropening position, a door closing position and an intermediate offposition, an interlocking toggle actuating means for presetting saidswitch means in response to its being returned to 011' position fromeither of its door operating positions for said switch means to beshifted to its opposite operating position in response to any nextactuation of said switch means, momentary contact means for actuatingsaid switch means to operate the door in the direction so preset by saidtoggle actuating means, limit actuator means for operation by saiddriving mechanism as said door is operated for actuating said switchmeans from door closing position to off position as said door closelyapproaches its closed position and for actuating said switch means fromdoor opening position to off position as said door closely approachesits open position, means for supporting said motor for swinging motionover a small arc in response to starting torque reaction in door openingdirection, means for withdrawing said slidable bolt to unlock said doorin response to such swinging motion to open said door, and means todeflect said latch bolt from said door in response to close approach ofsaid door to closed position and then restore it to locking position tolock said door in closed position.

11. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting saidshaft and door to open or close the door according to direction ofrotation of said shaft, a motor drivingly connected to said shaft foreifecting the desired directional rotation thereof, motor supportingmeans, means for suspending said motor supporting means from said shaftfor effecting a swinging movement of said motor supporting means partlyabout said shaft in response to starting torque of said motor in thedoor opening direction, means for latching said door in closed position,and means for releasing said latch means in re- 15 sponse to saidswinging movement of said motor support means.

12. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting saidshaft and door to open or close the door according to direction ofrotation of said shaft, a motor drivingly connected to said shaft foreffecting the desired directional rotation thereof, motor supportingmeans, means for suspending said motor supporting means from said shaftwith the center of gravity of the motor located normally below saidshaft in its inactive non-driving condition and for effecting a swingingmovement of said motor support means in response to the starting torqueof said motor in door opening direction, said swinging movement servingto rotate said motor support means and motor partly about said shaft tolift said motor against the weight of said motor in part, means forlatching said door in closed position and means for releasing said latchmeans from latching condition in response to said swinging movement ofsaid motor support means.

13. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting saidshaft and door to open or close the door according to the direction ofrotation of said shaft, motor means drivingly connected to said shaftfor effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspendedfrom said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor means inresponse to starting torque of the motor in the door opening direction,means for latching said door in closed position, and means for releasingsaid latch means in response to said swinging movement of said motormeans.

14. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting saidshaft and door to open or close the door according to direction ofrotation of said shaft, motor means drivingly connected to said shaftfor effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspendedfrom said shaft with the center of gravity of the motor means offsetfrom said shaft to provide a torque component on said shaft from theweight of said motor means upon any partial rotation of said motor aboutsaid shaft and for effecting a partial rotation of said motor meansabout f ing direction, means for latching said door in closed positionand means for releasing said latch means in response to said partialrotation of said motor means.

15. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting saidshaft and door to open or close the door according to the direction ofrotation of said shaft, motor means drivingly connected to said shaftfor effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspendedfrom said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor means inresponse to starting torque of the motor in the door opening direction,means for latching said door, means for releasing said latch means fromlatching condition in response to said swinging movement of said motormeans and means operated as said door returns to its closed position torestore said latch means to latching condition.

16. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting saidshaft and door to open or close the door according to direction ofrotation of said shaft; motor means drivingly connected to said shaftfor effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspendedfrom said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor means inresponse to starting torque of the motor in the door opening direction;means for latching said door, said latching means including a slidablebolt and means yieldably biasing said bolt to latching position for saiddoor, means for withdrawing said slidable bolt to unlatching position inresponse to said swinging movement of said motor means, meansoperated assaid door returns to its closed position to withdraw and restore saidslidable bolt to latching position, and a strike bar for said slidablebolt, said strike bar selectively movable manually between'a positionfor engaging said slidable bolt in its latching position and analternate position away from said slidable bolt latching position toprevent latching of said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,533,116 Jenkins Dec. 5, 1950 2,676,294 Wilcox Apr. 20, 1954

